Musicians, politicians and fans gathered to pay their respects to the late Sinead O’Connor as her private funeral was held in Bray, Co Wicklow, on Tuesday.
The Irish singer, who rose to global fame in 1990 with her cover of Prince’s song “Nothing Compares 2 U”, died in July aged 56. The cause of her death has yet to be disclosed.
On Tuesday morning, fans waited for her funeral procession outside Montebello, the house near Dublin where she lived for 15 years. She sold the property in 2021, and it has been empty ever since.
Some fans sang, while others held banners. One read simply: “Thanks Sinead.”
O’Connor’s life was honoured in a private ceremony led by Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, an Islamic scholar and chief imam at the Islamic Centre of Ireland.
Al-Qadri, who met the star in 2018, remembered O’Connor in his eulogy as “a voice that moved a generation of young people” who “could reduce listeners to tears by her other-worldly resonance”.
His speech was shared online, and he later described the service as “moving” and “spiritual”, reflecting both “her Irish identity as well as her Muslim identity”.
The ceremony was attended by fellow musicians Bob Geldof, a close friend of O’Connor’s, and Bono. Irish president Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar were also in attendance.
While the private ceremony took place, fans gathered outside O’Connor’s former home, laying notes, prayer candles and flowers.
Bob Geldof rides in the funeral cortege for Sinead O'Connor— (PA)
Roads near the home were closed and local public transport was packed out as fans arrived. The town’s Strand Road was soon jammed with wellwishers, many of whom were pictured crying and holding flowers.
Many of the letters they brought referenced O’Connor’s son Shane, who died by suicide aged 17 in January 2022.
“Thanks for your short, special life,” one note read. “Gone too soon. Give your lovely son Shane a hug for me in heaven. Have a nice long rest with Shane.”
Crowds gathered for O’Connor’s funeral procession outside her former home in Bray— (PA)
One fan, Sara Mohamed, said she had travelled to Bray to pay her respects to the “Irish legend”.
"As an Irish Muslim, I felt that I should be here on behalf of my community to pay my respects to the Irish legend she was,” she said.
“I just think she was massively outspoken and she spoke for minorities who didn’t have a voice. And that’s very admirable and very brave.”
After the private ceremony, a hearse carried O’Connor’s coffin, covered in blue and pink flowers, past her former home, and fans surrounded the vehicle. applauding and throwing flowers upon it.
A Volkswagen camper van decorated with the Pride flag and the Rastafarian flag led the way, with O’Connor’s songs playing from speakers mounted on the roof.
The Volkswagen van drove in front of the hearse bearing O’Connor’s coffin— (PA)
Fans sang along as “Nothing Compares 2 U” blared out. Geldof also drove in a taxi as part of the procession.
Remembering O’Connor, Irish president Higgins said: “The outpouring of grief and appreciation of the life and work of Sinead O’Connor demonstrates the profound impact which she had on the Irish people.
“The unique contribution of Sinead involved the experience of a great vulnerability combined with a superb, exceptional level of creativity that she chose to deliver through her voice, her music and her songs.”
